Nice N Easy Grocery Shoppes

Begun in 1980, Nice N Easy Grocery Shoppes is a New York-only chain well known for its foodservice, grocery and against-the-grain merchandising. Its corporate stores average 1,100 customers per day. It does not want to be lumped in with other c-stores and strives to differentiate itself from competitors in pricing and promotions, and in the type of items carried, especially groceries. In fact, Nice N Easy bucks the c-store trend, adding more grocery while others are cutting back on the category.

The chain’s strategy includes adding many more grocery items, especially in stores in regions of upstate New York that are underserved by large supermarkets. As the chain grows its convenience stores and adds franchises, Nice N Easy follows a prototype with the expanded grocery offering.

The chain is focusing on in-store food operations with its Easy Street Eatery, with two chefs on board, hired in mid-2011. The company also expanded the Easy Street name into its own brand of chips, alternative snacks and sweet snacks.

Nice N Easy participated in the 10th annual CSP/Service Intelligence Mystery Shop in 2014. Click here to see Nice N Easy's mystery-shop report card.